China’s relationship with the Philippines to strengthen under Marcos says Ambassador | World

Manila, May 12-Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President-elect of Southeast Asian countries, relations between the Philippines and China will be stronger, China’s ambassador to Manila said today.

Marcos, the son of a former dictator and of the same name, won the election this week in a landslide. This victory has the potential to reshape his country’s relations with both China and the United States.

China was looking forward to working with the new government to strengthen its partnership, Ambassador Van Kisrian said in a Facebook post.

Marcos has a long-standing relationship with China and is seeking a new agreement with China’s President Xi Jinping over the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

The Philippines is extremely important in the competition between the United States and China. The area includes part of the South China Sea. The South China Sea is a strategic and resource-rich waterway, and China also claims sovereignty.

Although the Philippines has been a longtime ally of the United States, Marcos’ victory could hurt US efforts against China.

Marcos’ relations with the United States are complicated by a contempt of court order in 1995 that refused to cooperate with the Hawaii District Court, which ordered the Marcos family to pay US $ 2 billion (RM8 billion). Of the wealth plundered by the victims of Marcos Sr.’s rule.

Indo-Pacific White House coordinator Kurt Campbell said yesterday that the United States wants early involvement with the Marcos administration, but historical considerations probably have “some early challenges.” I added that it means.

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden has called Marcos to congratulate him on his victory and said he is looking forward to strengthening the alliance. -Reuters